Nerve root lesions in the neck are responsible for causing such extreme arm and shoulder pain that some patients wish they could cut off their arm. Typical presentation with this syndrome involves looking very tired from sleep loss, limited interaction and loss of sense of humour and the keeping of the arm in a guarded position. The exact nerve root implicated will determine which areas of the arm are most badly affected. The pain can surge through the arm in agonising waves and also appear incredibly sharp. Any stretching, or tension, forces applied to the nerve by movements of the neck or arm is followed by a worsening of the pain severity. Read the rest of this entry »